How to control a city?

[bovi]

Rycalawre, your improved language is very appreciated. Thank you.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Also, positioning a spy in the settlement is quite useful because there's a reasonable chance that enemy spies get kicked out. Each enemy spy increases unrest in about 25%.

Edit: What preposition to use with "to increase ... 25%"???

[Mediolanicus]

Indeed counter-spying to kick enemy spies out will also lower your chances of unrest being too high in your cities.

P.S.: "an increase of 25%", or am I wrong?

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

P.S.: "an increase of 25%", or am I wrong?

No, you're right. But

"(the spy) increases (unrest) ... 25%"

Perhaps "by"?

[Hax]

When a spy is in a city, he will increase the unrest by 25 percent, I think

Gods, I really don't know.

"When in a city spy is, increase 25 percent, the unrest will." /Yoda

[Chris1959]

If you do use enslavement/ extermination then pay close attention to the native buildings. If I feel a settlement is liable to revolt my own favourite is to enslave then destroy the temple and build my own before anything else, temples seem to give the biggest cultural penalty after the Govenor's palace.

A good spy before you take a settlement can give you an idea when it will next upgrade, no point in massacring a city that's a 100 short of the next level as your own palace will dramatically reduce cultural difference. Of course you will need a hefty garrison, and remeber it's numbers not quality that count, if possible follow conquering armies with cheap levies for garrisons.

Regarding govenors the best way to reduce unrest is influence, influence, influence. Also if you have a couple of FM's in a stack juggle them to see who is best, one thing that is a little awkward with Eb is traits can be mutually cancelling.

[Mediolanicus]

"When in a city spy is, increase 25 percent, the unrest will." /Yoda

Say, right you've said it, I must.